Wednesday, May 8, 2013

SIBLAC petitions Governor with demand for action against Law Secy

GANGTOK, 07 May: Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has petitioned the Governor with a request to initiate immediate action against Law Secretary, RK Purkayasth, for what the organization believes was insensitive and incorrect advice to the State Government on the Tashiding Hydroelectric project. SIBLAC believes that Mr. Purkayastha was misleading not only the government, but also the judiciary on this project.
SIBLAC convenor, Tseten Tashi Bhutia, told the reporters today that a memorandum was submitted to the Raj Bhawan and the Chief Secretary yesterday urging them to take immediate action against the Law Secretary.
SIBLAC is offended by the legal opinion given by Mr. Purkayastha to the State Government on Tashiding HEP. This, after the high-powered committee chaired by the then Chief Secretary did not make a clear recommendation on what the government should do about this project. The committee, instituted to study hydel project proposed on the Rathong Chu in West Sikkim, had recommended the scrapping of two projects and not given a clear verdict on Tashiding HEP. Two projects, Lethang and Ting-Ting, were scrapped by the government.
In his seven-line legal opinion, the Law Secretary wrote, “With regard to Tashiding Power Project specific view was sought on the future course of action. In this regard, as I understand since considerable amount of about approximately Rs. 150 crores has been spent on the project so far it may not be advisable to push this project for consideration of not to go ahead with and to continue. Regarding the two other projects, the Committee Reports are already there for scrapping. The Government may have to take decision.”
SIBLAC is offended that the Law Secretary equated religious sanctity of the Rathong Chu with materialistic issues like the quantum of potential loss in money terms to the State exchequer.
The SIBLA memorandum to the Governor and Chief Secretary argues that Mr. Purkayastha’s “inefficient and controversial career antecedents” are already reflected and revealed in the Sikkim Vananspati scam, adding that the trivializing of Sikkim’s faith and religious sentiments by the officer were most unfortunate.

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